Pacific police chief arrested on suspicion of DUI

The police chief of Pacific, a city of about 5,000 people located primarily in south King County, was arrested on suspicion of DUI Tuesday night, according to the Pacific Police Department.

The chief, John Calkins, was arrested in Bonney Lake.

A graduate of Central Washington University who worked as an officer in Algona and Ellensburg, Calkins joined the Auburn Police Department in 1979 before retiring in 1993 to open a private investigation business, according to The News Tribune.

He also served as the Auburn Police Officers Guild president shortly before his retirement.

Calkins was announced as Pacific’s first director of public safety in August 2000 – only two days after the application deadline passed, The News Tribune reported at the time.

Officers were tipped to Calkins’ alleged drunken driving after someone following him westbound on state Route 410 called police, Bonney Lake police Sgt. Thomas Longtine said.

He was pulled over going westbound and tried to take a Breathalizer but couldn’t, perhaps because of a medical problem, Longtine said.

Calkins was given a blood test, police said, but the result were not released Wednesday.

The police chief was cited and released after agreeing to appear for an arraignment in Bonney Lake Municipal Court.

It is not uncommon for people arresetd on suspicion of DUI to be released after being cited, especially if they have no previous criminal history, State Patrol trooper Keith Trowbridge said. Drivers who are combative or have a poor driving history are more often jailed.

Calkins did not return calls for comment, and other Pacific Police Department officials differed calls to Bonney Lake police.

Pacific Mayor Richard Hildreth told The Associated Press Wednesday that the police chief has begun an “open-ended” vacation. His first court appearance is next Wednesday.